Work-positioning means for shoe machines



June 30, 1942. P. E. BURBY 2,287,970

WORK-POSITIONING MEANS FOR SHOE MACHINES Filed Aug. 12,194;

Figrl.

Patented June 30, 1942 warren sTT'as P orrics WORK-POSITIONING MEANS FOR SHOE MACHINES Philip E. Burby, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,

Flemington,

This invention relates to shoe machines, and more particularly to means for positioning the work in such machines. The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a construction which is a modification of work-positioning means disclosed, as part of a toe-lasting machine, in United States Letters Patent No. 2,245,580, granted on June 17, 1941, on an application of F. C. Eastmans. It is to be understood, however, that it is not limited to that particular embodiment or to lasting machines.

In the use of one form of work-positioning means disclosed in the above-mentioned Letters Patent the last with its shoe materials is positioned lengthwise and laterally in proper predetermined relation to toe-embracing wipers of the toe-lasting machine by a plurality of pins extending into corresponding holes in the bottom of the forepart of the last, comprising a pair of holes spaced apart widthwise of the last and another hole located nearer the end of the toe than the pair of holes. While such work-positioning means has, in general, proved highly satisfactory, it has been found that under extreme atmospheric conditions expansion of a last, for example, may so affect the positions of the holes, especially of the pair of holes which are spaced apart widthwise of the last, that a substantial amount of force is required to mount the last on the pins and one or more of the pins may, in fact, be broken. An object of the present invention, accordingly, is to provide an improved construction such that regardless of expansion or contraction of a last as a result of atmospheric conditions, the last may be readily mounted on such positioning pins without danger of breaking the pins. For the purposes in View, the construction herein shown comprises pins which are resiliently flexible topermit them to adjust themselves to variations in the positions of the holes in the last. The invention is illustrated with reference to three pins arranged as disclosed in the above-mentioned Letters Patent, but it is not limited to that particular number or arrangement of pins, although it is of special utility in a construction including pins arranged to enter holes spaced apart widthwise of the last, since expansion or contraction of a last is more pronounced widthwise than lengthwise. The invention further provides means for limiting any deflection of the flexible pins in the course of the operation of the machine, which is especially desirable in a toe-lasting machine having wipers as disclosed in the above-mentioned Letters Patent, in order against the pressure of the wipers on the shoe in a heelward direction. As herein shown this limiting means comprises sleeves in which the pins are fixedly mounted at one end and portions of which are spaced from the pins to permit them to adjust themselves as required to the positions of the holes in the last but to limit thereafter any deflection of the pins.

The novel features of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a View in vertical section of a portion of the machine shown in the previously mentioned Letters Patent as modified in accordance with the present invention, the parts being shown as they appear in their relation to a last and shoe when the wipers are holding the margin of the upper in lasted position;

Fig. 2 shows the same portion of the machine in elevation as viewed from the left with reference to Fig. 1, with the last and shoe in section; and

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of one of the workpositioning pins and its supporting sleeve detached.

The machine shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent is provided with wipers which, in cooperation with other lasting instrumentalities, Wipe the upper about the toe end of the last heightwise of the last and then wipe its marginal portion inwardly over an insole on the last and press it against a lip on the insole. One of the wipers of such a machine is shown at 2 in Fig. 1 in the position which it occupies in pressing the margin of the upper against the lip a of the insole. To support the lip against the inwardly directed pressure of the wipers the machine has a plate 4 provided with a downwardly extending rim 5 arranged to engage the inner face of the lip around the end and along the sides of the toe. By engagement with the insole adjacent to the lip the rim 6 further serves to position the last and shoe heightwise for thetoe-lasting operation, the work being clamped against the rim by a toe rest 8.

In order to position the last and its shoe materials lengthwise and laterally in proper relation to the lasting instrumentalities and to assist in supporting them in that relation in the lasting operation, one form of construction shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent includes, in combination with such an insole-engaging plate, a plurality of pins arranged to extend through that the pins may effectively support the last holes in the insole into holes provided in the bottom of the forepart of the last in a definitely determined relation to the contour of the last. Similarly, the construction herein shown includes pins ll] arranged to extend into holes I2 in the forepart of the last, these holes being formed in metal bushings l4 inserted in the last and the pins having rounded ends to facilitate their entrance into the holes. As illustrated, two of the pins and the corresponding holes are spaced apart widthwise of the last at a substantial distance from the end of the toe, and the third pin is arranged to enter a hole in the last located nearer the end of the toe. The pins ill, for purposes of the present invention, are specially constructed and mounted as hereinafter described. At this point it need only be stated that they are fast at their upper ends in sleeves l5 which are fast in a supporting member 18. The sleeves extend through openings in the plate 4 which are of substantially the same diameter as the sleeves, and through similar openings in a holder 28 which supports the plate. Slidingl mounted in the holder 20 is a retaining member 22 a portion of which extends downwardly through a slot 24 in the holder and into a slot 25 in the plate and is provided with a flange 23 for engaging the plate to lock it against the holder. The retaining member may be moved against the resistance of a spring 30 by means of a knob 32 fast on a stem 34 of the member to release the plate 4 when it is desired to substitute a diiierently formed plate. The means for thus detachably securing the plate 4 to the holder 20 is constructed substantially as disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent. Similarly also to the prior construction, provision is aiTorded for vertical movements of the holder and plate as a unit in directions heightwise of the shoe. A spring 36 mounted in an upwardly extending tubular portion 38 of the holder tends to move the holder downwardly and maintains it initially in a position determined by a stud 40 which is threaded in the member l8 and extends into a slot 42 in the tubular portion 38. When the holder is in this position the lower edge of the rim 6 on the plate 4 is approximately at the same level as the lower ends of the pins Ill, so that the operator in presenting a shoe to the machine may position the lip of the insole in proper relation to the rim 6 before the pins enter the holes in the insole and last. Having thus presented the shoe, the operator lifts it with the plate 4 and the holder 29 against the resistance of the spring 36 to cause the pins to enter the holes. At the beginning of the power operation of the machine the toe rest 8 is moved upwardly to clamp the shoe against the rim 6 of the plate 4, and it will be evident that if the operator has not already moved the shoe upwardly as far as permitted by engagement of the holder 2!] with the member IS, the toe rest will force the shoe farther upwardly to the position thus determined, causing the pins H] to extend farther into the holes in the last.

As hereinbefore suggested, under extreme atmospheric conditions it has sometimes required a substantial amount of force to mount a last on the pins because of the effect of expansion of the last, for example, on the positions of the holes therein, and danger has been involved of breaking one or more of the pins, especially of the pins which are spaced apart widthwise of the last, by the force of the toe rest on the shoe. For purposes of the present invention, therefore, the pins [0 are made resiliently flexible for such distances heightwise of the last as to permit them to be readily deflected laterally and thereby to adjust themselves to variations in the positions of the holes l2 in the last upon engagement of their rounded ends with the edges of the bushings M. It will be noted that only the extreme upper ends of the pins are fast in the sleeves l6, and that annular spaces 44 in the sleeves surrounding substantial portions of the pins below their upper ends afford provision for the required amount of lateral deflection of the pins, as illustrated in Fig. 2 with reference to the two pins which are spaced apart widthwise of the last. In a toelasting machine such as that in which the invention is herein illustrated as embodied the toe wipers apply to the shoe a substantial force in a heelward direction in the lasting operation; and it will be evident that whether or not deflection of one or more of the pins has occurred, as above described, to conform to the positions of the holes in the last, the force of the wipers on the shoe tends to deflect all of them in a heelward direction. To assist in supporting the last effectively against such pressure of the wipers on the shoe, the sleeves 15 are arranged to engage the pins ID to limit their deflection in a heelward direction, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the annular spaces 44 in the sleeves being made only large enough to provide sufficient leeway for the pins to adjust themselves to variations in the positions of the holes in the last.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on shoe materials on a last, of a plurality of pins arranged to extend into holes in the bottom of the last to position the last relatively to said operating means, the lastengaging portions of said pins being deflectable laterally to permit them to adjust themselves to variations in the positions of the holes due to expansion or contraction of the last.

2. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on shoe materials on a last, of a plurality of pins arranged to extend into holes in the bottom of the last to position the last relatively to said operating means, said pins being resiliently flexible to permit them to adjust themselves laterally to variations in the positions f the holes due to expansion or contraction of the last.

3. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on shoe materials on a last, of a plurality of pins spaced apart widthwise of the last and arranged to extend into holes in the bottom of the last to position the last relatively to said operating means, said pins being resiliently flexible to permit them to be deflected and thereby to adjust themselves widthwise of the last to variations in the positions of the holes due to expansion or contraction of the last, and means for limiting any deflection of the pins in a direction lengthwise of the last in the course of the operation of the machine.

4. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on shoe materials on a last, of a plurality of pins arranged to extend into holes in the bottom of the forepart of the last to position the last relatively to said operating means, said pins including a pair of pins spaced apart widthwise of the last and another pin located nearer the end of the toe than said pair of pins, all said pins being resiliently flexible to permit them to be deflected and thereby to adjust themselves to variations in the positions of the holes due to expansion or contraction of the last, and means for limiting any deflection of the pins thereafter in the course of the operation of the machine.

5. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on shoe materials on a last, of a plurality of pins arranged to extend into holes in the bottom of the last to position the last relatively to said operating means, said pins being resiliently flexible to permit them to be deflected and thereby to adjust themselves to variations in the positions of the holes due to expansion or contraction of the last, and supporting means in which said pins are fixedly mounted at one end, portions of said supporting means being spaced from the pins to permit them to be thus deflected but arranged to limit any deflection thereof in a direction lengthwise of the last in the course of the operation of the machine.

6. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on shoe materials on a last, of a plurality of pins arranged to extend into holes in the bottom of the last to position the last relatively to said operating means, said pins being resiliently flexible to permit them to be deflected in any direction and thereby to adjust themselves to variations in the positions of the holes due to expansion or contraction of the last, and'sleeves in which said pins are fixedly mounted at one end, portions of said sleeves extending lengthwise of the pins in spaced relation thereto to permit them to be thus deflected but to limit thereafter any deflection thereof in the course of the operation of the machine.

PHILIP E. BURBY. 

